Collection Specialist, Scott Burton Catalogue Raisonné Project

The Museum:

Founded in 1929 as an educational institution The Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to being the foremost Museum of modern and contemporary art in the world. Through the leadership of its trustees and staff the Museum manifests this commitment by establishing preserving and documenting a collection of the highest order that reflects the vitality complexity and unfolding patterns of modern and contemporary art; by presenting exhibitions and educational programs of unparalleled significance; by sustaining a library archives and conservation laboratory that are recognized as international centers of research; and by supporting scholarship and publications of preeminent intellectual merit. Central to the Museums mission is the encouragement of an ever-deepening understanding and enjoyment of modern and contemporary art by the diverse local national and international audiences that it serves.

The Opportunity:

The Museum of Modern Art seeks a Collection Specialist in the Department of Painting and Sculpture. MoMA is the repository of the worlds largest and most inclusive collection of modern painting and sculpture comprising some 4000 works dating from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Under the leadership of the Chief Curator the Department produces a rigorous and innovative program of acquisitions exhibitions and scholarship.

The Collection Specialist role is a part-time fixed-term position to join a team dedicated to compiling the comprehensive catalogue raisonné of the art of Scott Burton. This Collection Specialist will work under the guidance of the Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture. It is the goal of this catalogue raisonné project to physically examine every known work of the artist. This position is three days a week and is a grant-funded position expected to last approximately two years.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as point person for Scott Burton catalogue raisonné project liaising with internal departments and as well as external institutions as needed and developing timeline for project.
• In collaboration with the Burton Committee develops a methodological framework for the catalogue raisonné project that ensures its execution at the highest caliber and establishes confidence through transparency with outside scholars curators collectors.
• Collaborates on collection management temporary exhibitions and public programs related to the artist and MoMAs holdings of his work.
• Researches the Museums Burton collection and the artists archives supporting departmental projects and responding to related inquiries.
• Plans and executes collection installations and exhibitions that center Burtons work and invites new scholarship individually or with curatorial peers.
• Assists Chief Curator with research planning and organization of any related curatorial projects.
• Authors edits and assists in producing the catalogue raisonné and any other adjacent exhibition-related materials including wall texts and object labels.
• Invites and organizes outside authors to contribute catalogue entries for the Scott Burton catalogue raisonné.
• Participates in departmental teams focused on core functions (e.g. website storage acquisitions research imaging provenance) primarily as it relates to the Museums Burton collection.
• Corresponds with private owners galleries auction houses and public collections in New York City and throughout the U.S. to track artworks and arrange viewing appointments.
• Examines/documents artworks following specific guidelines and using research tools; takes digital pictures for research purposes.
• Serves as primary liaison between P&S and the General Counsels office for all Burton inquiries.
• Works closely with the MoMA conservation team as needed.
• Submits gathered information in a precise and comprehensive way to the Burton Committee to ensure the catalogue raisonné is under constant peer review.
• Coordinates and attends quarterly Scott Burton Advisory Committee meetings and presents on project updates.
• Maintains strict confidentiality in all sensitive matters.
• Work collaboratively with other curatorial staff and Archives staff on the Scott Burton project and helps manage and mentors junior staff including Department Assistants Curatorial Assistants Fellows and Interns.
• Travels domestically and internationally for exhibition collection and acquisition research.
• Performs any other duties related to the Scott Burton project.

Qualifications:

• Masters degree or PhD in art history and five to eight years related work experience within an art museum.
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of the Scott Burton holdings at U.S. institutions.
• Proficiency in both collections management and exhibitions including the ability to initiate direct research catalog and maintain works of art and organize and communicate related information.
• Experience in object cataloguing and photography for documentation purposes.
• Catalogue raisonné experience not required but knowledge of post-WWII American modern and/or contemporary art necessary.
• Demonstrated experience in collections and object-based research including exhibition organization installation and the capacity to author supporting publications.
• Command of The Museum System (TMS) and ability to learn and implement related collections management systems.
• Excellent communication research and writing skills essential.
• Resourceful skills for tracking artworks and collectors.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and meet information submittal deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with the full-time collection and curatorial team.
• Experience with MS Word Excel and PowerPoint and other standard office procedures and skills.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Reports to: The Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture

Salary: The salary for this position based on the part-time schedule is $52200 (gross) per annum

Application instructions: To apply please visit MoMA Jobs. Applicants should submit a resume and a statement of interest. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of April 3 2026 after which the job posting will be closed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been and will continue to be a fundamental principle at the Museum where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race color religion sex age national origin disability pregnancy genetic information military or veteran status sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression marital and civil partnership/union status alienage or citizenship status creed genetic predisposition or carrier status unemployment status familial status domestic violence sexual violence or stalking victim status caregiver status arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law credit history or any other protected category as established by applicable law including the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL).

This is a unionized position at MoMA with covered employees represented by Local 2110 UAW AFL-CIO.

Required Experience:

IC